Chess Basics: Set Up the Board & Basic Rules Chess Merit Badge Chess Basics: Set Up the Board & Basic Rules by Joseph L. Bell © 2011

Chess Pieces Pieces on the Board White DiagramPieces Black DiagramPieces King Queen Bishop Knight Rook Pawn Chess Merit Badge © 2011

King & Queen – Shape in Diagrams The King’s crown has a rounded shape King’s have a cross on top of their crown The Queen’s crown has a pointed shape King Queen Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Bishop - Shape in Diagrams The cleft between the front and back of the Mitre became the diagonal cut in the Bishop chess piece. These are lappers, not “feet” A Bishops’ Mitre Clipart courtesy FCIT, http://etc.usf.edu/clipart Chess Bishop for print diagrams The shape of the Bishop used in printed chess diagrams is based on the Bishop’s Mitre, a liturgical headpiece worn by the bishop when exercising his office. Two bands called “lappers” hang from the back of the mitre down onto the shoulders Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Knight – Shape in Diagrams Statue, Doncaster Knights Rugby Club © Copyright Dave Pickersgill and licensed for reuse Chess Knight for print diagrams The shape of the Knight used in printed chess diagrams is the head of a Knight’s horse Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Rook – Shape in Diagrams Chess Rook for print diagrams Winsor Castle © Derek A R., 2005 licensed for reuse The shape of the Rook used in printed chess diagrams is a circular tower from a castle Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Pawn – Shape in Diagrams Pikeman’s Armor, 1600-1630 A.D. © mharrsch, licensed for reuse Chess Pawn for print diagrams Swiss infantry formed pike squares of 100 infantry men in a 10 x 10 array, each holding a long pointed staff. A well-drilled pike square was impenetrable by cavalry and very mobile. Notice how the pikeman’s helmet and armor looks like a pawn Chess Merit Badge © 2011

A Pike Square Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Chess Basics How to Set Up the Chess Board Basic Rules How the Pieces Move Rules for Castling En Passant Pawn Captures Checkmate – How a game is won The Ways to Draw a Game Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Setting Up a Chess Board “White to the Right” Put the White corner to the right side Switching this can make A game invalid. If the board has letters, They should read A-H for the White player. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Setting Up the Pieces Queen On Her Color White Queen is on a white square Black Queen is on a shaded square A lady wants her shoes to match her dress. Check this before you start the game. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Pieces in Alphabetical Order Add the pieces in Alphabetical Order, going out from the King & Queen. Bishops next to K & Q Knights next to Bishops Rooks in the Corners Switching a Bishop and a Knight is a common mistake in setting up the board. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Add the Pawns in Front Now the board is ready to play Chess ! Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Rules for Setting Up Board White (corner) to the Right Queen on Her Color Add Pieces Alphabetically from the Center Pawns in Front Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Moving Rooks Rooks move to vacant squares in a horizontal or vertical straight line. Rooks must stop before their own pieces, or they can capture an opponent’s piece and occupy that square. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Moving Bishops Bishops move to vacant squares in a diagonal straight line. Bishops must stop before their own pieces, or they can capture an opponent’s piece and occupy that square. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Moving Knights Knights move in an “L”, two squares in one direction and one square at a right angle. Knights jump over pieces of any color. Knights can capture opponent’s pieces, but not their own pieces. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Moving the Queen The Queen combines the moves of the Rook and the Bishop. The Queen moves to vacant squares in a straight line. The Queen must stop before her own pieces, or she can capture an opponent’s piece and occupy that square. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Moving the King The King moves one square in any direction, but cannot stay in or move to a square under attack by an opposing piece, or occupy a square that has one of his own pieces. The King may capture an unprotected piece, even if it is attacking him. Castling is done with both the King and Rook in the same move. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Moving Pawns Pawns move forward, either one or two empty squares on their first move, and only one empty square after that. Pawns may capture opponent’s pieces that are one diagonal square in front of it A Pawn cannot capture a piece directly in front of it. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

En Passant Capture Pawns allowed able to take an opponent’s pawn “en passant” (French for “in passing”). When the opponent’s pawn moves two squares, the pawn can captures as if the pawn only moves one square. This en passant capture MUST be done immediately (on the very next move), or the option to capture this way is lost. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Pawn Promotion When a Pawn reaches the final rank, it is exchanged (in the same turn) for a Queen, Rook, Bishop or Knight of the same color. 1. a8=N is checkmate 1. a8=Q is stalemate Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Rules for Castling The King & Rook have not yet moved in the game All squares between the King and Rook are empty The King is not in check The King does not move to or move over a square that is in check Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Checkmate & When to Resign Checkmate is when one player’s King is threatened and there is no legal move to meet the threat. The player giving checkmate wins the game. A player can resign when their position is hopeless. It is a loss, but it saves time & shows they knew they lost. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

4 Ways to Draw a Game By agreement with your opponent Repeating the same position three (3) times, with the same person to move and the same possible moves Stalemate: The player to move has no legal moves and is not in check The 50-Move Rule: 50 moves without a check or a piece being captured Chess Merit Badge © 2011

About Draws To request a draw, 1) You must be the player to move, 2) Make your move, and 3) Offer a draw before touching the clock. The offer is considered on your time, not your opponent’s time. If your opponent offers a draw, he often thinks he is losing. Check what winning chances you have. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

50-Move Draw Example The opposite-color Bishops can avoid each other, and avoid capture by the King forever. This will be a draw eventually, if one is not offered and accepted. Trying to win on time can be challenged by appeal to the director. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Requirements Demonstrate to your counselor that you know each of the following. Then, using Scouting’s Teaching EDGE, teach the following to a Scout who does not know how to play chess: The name of each chess piece How to set up the chessboard How each chess piece moves, including castling and en passant captures Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Requirements Do the following: Explain the four rules for castling. Demonstrate on a chessboard four ways a chess game can end in a draw. Chess Merit Badge © 2011

Questions ? Chess Merit Badge © 2011